The 2026‑27 Big 12 men’s basketball season is shaping up to be one of the most fluid in recent memory, as programs lean heavily on the transfer portal and fresh recruiting classes to rewrite their line‑ups before the first tip‑off.
Top‑Tier Contenders
Houston, the defending regular‑season champion, enters the campaign with a new‑look roster but still clings to the preseason No. 1 ranking. The Cougars will miss the scoring punch of Kingston Flemings, Emanuel Sharp and Milos Uzan, yet head coach Kelvin Sampson believes the depth acquired through the portal will keep them competitive.
Mid‑Tier Shifts
Iowa State faces a steep climb after losing Joshua Jefferson and Tamin Lipsey to graduation and seeing Milan Momcilovic head to the transfer portal. The Cyclones will rely on younger pieces and a revamped defensive scheme.
Texas Tech’s star forward JT Toppin is expected to make a full recovery from a season‑ending ACL injury, positioning him as a preseason Big 12 Player of the Year candidate and giving the Red Raiders a potent inside presence.
BYU, under coach Kevin Young, retained point guard Robert Wright III and added Kentucky transfer Collin Chandler, aiming to blend experience with fresh talent.
Dark‑Horse Programs
Cincinnati’s first‑year coach Jerrod Calhoun has assembled a roster featuring 12 transfers, among them Tyler Tejada from Towson, hoping to push the Bearcats back into postseason contention.
Baylor’s Dylan Mingo, a five‑star prospect with a history of injuries, will be watched closely; his health could determine whether the Bears can rebound from a disappointing previous season.
TCU returns key contributors Xavier Edmonds and Micah Robinson and brings in JUCO standout Trent Lincoln, giving the Horned Frogs a boost in both experience and scoring.
UCF’s coach Johnny Dawkins added the Dean brothers, Mister and Arturo, to offset the loss of three top scorers, while also bolstering the backcourt with additional talent.
Oklahoma State’s incoming class, ranked No. 7 nationally, features Jordan Burks and Andrija Grbovic, giving the Cowboys a surge of athleticism as they look to climb the conference ladder.
West Virginia’s Ross Hodge introduced a backcourt‑heavy class that sits in the top 10 nationally, promising a faster tempo and tighter defense.
Arizona State, guided by Randy Bennett despite a recent health scare, assembled a transfer class that could push the Sun Devils into NCAA Tournament conversation.
Utah’s second‑year coach Alex Jensen, still searching for stability after a rocky start, has signed Jackson Holcombe and Noam Yaacov, hoping the new pieces can accelerate the Utes’ development.
Finally, Kansas State is in the midst of a coaching search after parting ways with its previous leader, leaving the Wildcats with an uncertain but potentially revitalizing future.
Overall, the conference’s blend of seasoned veterans and high‑profile newcomers promises a season that will be as unpredictable as it is exciting, with each program vying to translate roster reshuffles into on‑court success.